The Seedy Social Experiments of Animal Crossing

At some point, and very early on in my Animal Crossing's town's short existence, a green parrot named Frank moved in.  He and I did not get along the minute he opened that brutish mouth of his.  He sounded mean and gruff, and spoke Animalese in a tone that was very much like how Okami's Susano sounds.

He's one of those animals that had the heart of a jerk.  You know the sort if you've played any iteration of Animal Crossing: the judgmental type who is unpleasant in his mannerisms.

I wanted him gone.  And so, the fastest way to get rid of him was to have little to no interactions with him.  Day in and day out, I uttered barely a word to that ugly green bird.  An occasional pleasantry was exchanged, and I may have run an errand once or twice but not much more was done to further the friendship.

Your Favourite Worst Nightmare: Something Wicked This Way Comes...

Your Home Town: You’ve just about forgotten the day you stepped off that train into a life of Inadvertent Leadership.  Neighbros have come and gone.  Friends have visited your larger than life world with its zen garden, and the lonely lighthouse keeping watch over the cliff as it ushers Kappa safe passage to the Island.  Your house now looks fit for a king as you sit in front of your fireplace every night wondering when next that horse will make an unannounced visit.  Your museum has reached a new level of cultural sophistication and yet there’s still so much left to explore.

Your Favourite Worst Nightmare: The "Single White Stallion" Edition

Your home town: the charm of a quiet life is still there but now you're taking your duties as Inadvertent Mayor seriously.  Public works projects - you've got quite the few:  a trellis near your beautiful fountain? Check.  A splendid overnight camping site by the river under the stars? Indeed.  You encourage the arts and your museum is filled with wonder and knowledge because you're not a cultural Philistine, perish the thought! Your continued battle with the bees is all in a day's work.  As Mayor, you have have taken to buying surveillance equipment to keep an eye on the Demon Clown, or maybe you're out there interviewing Pete on his mail run.  You still find the time to enjoy life by dancing the night away with your neighbros at your Club, but you've got your eyes on trouble brewing (and it's not the pigeon milk in your coffee, though you've got your eye on that too).  No, there's an animal in your town and there is something sinister about him.  You best mind your life or he'll mind it for you...

The Tree Spoke to me

A most peculiar thing happened in the town of Tennant in the early hours this morning.  The skies were blue and I was busily making my town to be fabulous to match the Fashionista personality my animals all claim I own.  I picked some flowers for their move to their future homes, slapped down some tiles around the Town Square and then I inadvertently came to rest my Fashionista rear (clothed in a plaid, pleated dress ensemble) on the brick wall that encases the Town Square tree.

Sometimes...

...sometimes, it's the little moments like these that give me pause for quiet reflection.  As simple as this is, there was something amazingly magical about walking around in the dark with my watering can in hand, hearing a tiny 'ping' and another.  Then came the others in rapid succession and the frequency finally forced me to pay attention and had me looking up to the sky and there it was: the stars were falling.  Every time they did, that twinkling sound (the best way for me to describe that glorious sound) happened and just like that, a Meteor Shower was happening in my virtual life.

Your Favourite Worst Nightmare: The "Coveting Thy Neighbour's Ram" Edition

Your home town: the quiet, rural sort of which you were inadvertently made Mayor, invokes feelings of that wonderful, easy-going atmosphere.  There are days when you may go to your favourite spot on the beach to fish.  Sneaking up on bugs requires ninja stealth, and running from bees is all in a day's work.  Life tends to move at a snail's pace, as do you.  You know where to find the fortune cookie every morning and look forward to when Re-Tail opens for business.  You know all of your neighbours' names, and their catch phrases.  Maybe you even have a best friend there in the gutsy neighbour who might call you his Ladybro.  There is however, that one animal in particular who is your favourite, worst nightmare of a neighbour.  I've peered into the soulless eyes of a demon and its name is Pietro.

Flashback: Almost One Week Later...

It has been almost a week since UI 2.0 and I attended the launch event for Animal Crossing: New Leaf at Nintendo World in NYC.  Having now spent a week with the game on and off, I'd like to give my impressions of it, if I may.  It's here you may expect to read lengthy stories about pitfalls, shady dock dealings, Hide and Go Seek, shark fishing jealousy, the music and my dwindling fear of Mutliplayer.  Consider yourself warned and turn back now while you still can.  Otherwise, Welcome to Flashback Friday Fun Times!

The truth of it all is that I have not been logging as much time into New Leaf as many of my fellow TAY'ers.  I am amazed when I may wander into the occasional town and find that hundreds of flowers are in bloom and Public Works Projects for a second and third bridge have been initiated as with ToxicBunnies' town.
There have been tales of endless Shark Fishing at night and stories of bell bank accounts so large that it has been nothing short of staggering to me.

Making Friends is Easy! The Animal Crossing Launch Event at Nintendo World, NYC

In my mind, the day was going to be perfect.  I pictured that it would be raining when I got to Nintendo World at 7 a.m. and I would be met by a sea of black umbrellas.  Continuing my fantasy, I believed that as I approached the line, I would certainly be humming my favourite tune.  I imagined the line would be short due to the heavy rain we have been having in NYC.  And I thought I would be extremely elated.

This morning I awoke and was met instead by the sun peeking out from the grey clouds.  It had actually been raining when I awoke at 4:30 but by the time I got to the train, I had to wear my sunglasses.
What's even worse, I got to Nintendo World near 8 a.m. which was much later than I had anticipated and instead of short line with a sea of umbrellas, there was a line that had already reached halfway down the block.